Google’s Pixel 3 has one of the best cameras on a phone right now. Almost all media reviews of the Pixel 3 talk about its quality, in comparison to the iPhone XS, Galaxy Note 9 and even Huawei’s P20 Pro.
But very few people, especially in India would be keen on spending close to Rs 75,000 on a phone. So what if you just want the benefits of the Pixel 3 camera on any of the lesser priced Android phones?
Turns out you can, with Google’s Pixel 3 stock camera app available in the form of an Android Package Kit (APK) that can be installed (more like side-loaded) to any Android device in the market. These APKs aren’t available in the Google Play Store though.
That’s the best part about Android, no feature is exclusive, especially when developers start working on mods that can be used on affordable devices. How can you side-load these developer mods? We’ve got you covered. We tried it out successfully on a OnePlus 6T.
Side-load Pixel Camera to Android Phones
- Download APKs for OnePlus 6 or OnePlus 6T
- Transfer the APKs to your phone
- Open File Explorer, then Download on the phone
- Allow phone to access third-party apps and click on the APK
- You’ll be able to use Pixel camera mods on a OnePlus or Xiaomi phone.
Pixel 3 and 3XL get a 12.2 megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, but Google has played heavily on the software side to give you a compelling photography package. These mods are well received by developers and even the geeks who like fiddling with their phones.
Pixel phones are expensive, but since it runs on stock Android, the features it has more or less trickle down to mid-range phones sooner than later. Hopefully, Google too may realise that a mid-range Pixel phone in the near future could change its fortunes rather than just relying on its high-priced Pixel series. After all, it’s hard and pointless to try and become another Apple.
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